870 pattern is off point-of-aim -- what to do?

[Richard.Howe]

Well, with duck season coming up, I broke down and bought an 870 Express 12 ga. w/ a 28" barrel. Just couldn't stand the thought of taking my Urika Gold into a blind.

At any rate -- the dang 870's pattern is way off point-of-aim. I can kill skeet and trap with the Urika, and miss all day long with the 870.

What might account for this? And -- besides adjusting where I aim -- what can be done to align POA and pattern-center?

Thanks!
Rich

 

[Dave McCracken]

First pattern the thing. The floating thread at the top of the forum should help you.

After firing a few shots, you should be able to tell which way the patterns need to be shifted.

Using a Phillips head screwdriver, remove the pad. Then, use an appropriate tool to loosen the stock until it's almost possible to take it off. I use a long screwdriver.

Using card stock,metal shims,toothpicks,etc,shim between the stock and receiver. I use aluminum foil folded multiple times.

If you want the pattern to shift up, shim at the bottom. To move the pattern right, shim on the left. And so on.

Put all back together and shoot at least 3 patterns to determine if you changed things enough, too much or not enough. Repeat until tuned in.

HTH....

 

[TrapperReady]

One way to adjust POA to POI on a shotgun is by using shims. These can be cut from old shell boxes. Generally, if you want to lower the POI, you add shims to the heel (top) of the stock. If you want to raise the POI, you add shims to the toe (bottom) of the stock. If you use a slip-on recoil pad, then you can cut them to fit and carefully place them inside. Otherwise, you will need to put them between the butt-pad and the stock.

Sometimes people may benefit from building up the comb slightly (usually with pieces of moleskin) or even light sanding. I've not done much with this method, so you will probably want to look out for more info from some of the other "usual suspects" around here.

If you get things worked out just how you want, then you can take the gun to a smith and have them make a permanent adjustment.

 

[sm]

What Dave and TR said.

Part of this is gun fit as you know. Folks changing platforms often don't realize the gun itself may very well "shoot POA/POI " the gun doesn't fit the shooter. This is what the shims and such are doing.

Also remember , one gets accustmed to mounting a certain platform to face with a gun that fits. They change platforms - human nature being what it is - without realizing it , they "scrunch down and around" to fit the gun. "Thinking" the gun fits , until targets, doves, ducks...start flying and when things start going a bit fast they don't have time to "scrunch"...the gun IS shooting where pointed....just the shooter ain't pointing at the target when trigger slapped.

Gun fit, patterning loads makes a difference.